How to Crop an Image With Digital Zoom

With most point-and-shoot cameras, digital zoom, if offered, appears to bring your subject closer while cropping out the surrounding background. Unlike optical zoom, which uses the camera's lens to enlarge the details in an image, digital zoom uses a process called interpolation, giving you the option of using your camera's computer to enhance the pixels.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Turn on your digital camera and set up the shot.

2. Use a tripod if you aren't confident that you can hold your camera still. The risk of camera shake increases as the camera is zoomed to its maximum range. In addition, attach a shutter release or, better yet, use a wireless remote shutter release to minimize any movement.

3. Zoom in on your desired object or scene. The first zoom you will experience is the optical zoom that adjusts lens length to enlarge your image. The second zoom is the digital zoom, which will interpolate your image and crop out the background.

4. Compose the picture in your viewfinder or on your preview screen. With digital zoom, your image will be stored with added pixels, based upon similar color. Early digital zooms yielded poor interpolation results but as technology increases, so does the quality of pixel enhancing.

5. Take the shot. The cropped version of your image will be stored in your camera's memory and you will be able to print it directly or open it in a graphics program for editing.

Tips & Warnings

• Digital zoom only enhances the parts of the image the computer sensor thinks you want enhanced. Although the process is highly refined, purists don't like the idea of adding pixels in an image just for cropping purposes. If you feel this way, use only your optical zoom and crop the image in a graphics program or at your local print station.